School of Beauty, School of Culture, 2012
Kerry James Marshall
Could This Be Love, 1992
Kerry James Marshall
Kerry James Marshall
For his large-scale, exuberant paintings, 61-year-old African American artist Kerry James Marshall paints only black people.
The paintings are emotional, bursting with everyday life in riotous colors and love. Even the most staid museum visitors have been seen to kiss in front of them!
Not all his works are of happiness, though — there are funerals, killers, lost boys, anger and grief — but always depicted in bright, bold colors and powerful shapes…and always filled with vibrant spirit!
__________________
Gone: An Historical Romance of a Civil War…, 1994
Kara Walker
Kara Walker
Black contemporary artist Kara Walker shatters any romantic notion of the South, Civil War or slavery. Walker cuts out huge life-size silhouettes in black paper…nightmarish images of slavery in the Antebellum South.
__________________
in Pursuit of Venus [infected], 2015
Still of panoramic video by Lisa Reihana
Lisa Reihana
Art and history make an explosive and exciting combination! Lisa Reihana, a Māori artist in Auckland, New Zealand, has produced a panoramic video that is irresistible in its storytelling of the encounters between the Polynesians and British Captain James Cook in 1770.
A major installation, sculpture, and video artwork is being featured at the 2017 Venice Biennale, the world’s largest art fair, depicting the profoundly beautiful and cultured Polynesians.
Watch this 1-minute video of Reihana’s work! Look for Captain Cook!
Click here if you are unable to view the video.
Research assistance by Alex Cordier, writer based in Auckland, New Zealand working in a variety of sales roles within the tourism and hospitality sectors. Alex is a passionate writer, with a particular focus on travel, lifestyle, and contemporary art.
I like these artists.
Thanks Deanna! I like them too! Their subject matter is something we don’t see often enough.
Loved your review of the Three Cutting Edge Artist’s! And the video of the installation by the New Zealand artist at the Venice Biennale is fantastic! Wish I could see it in person. Thanks for showing us this fabulous art Kirby!
Hi Linda,
Thanks for your comment on 3 Cutting Edge Artists. I read your blog from top to bottom and think it is masterful! Good job!
KK
Love Kara Walker! Just saw her new show of drawings in Chelsea last week. Her drawing is so strong with beautiful curves and action. Like Kerry James Walker a lot too. Wasn’t familiar with Lisa Relhana but she is interesting too. Thank you Kirby!
Thanks Roxene for the description of Kara Walker’s new show of drawings. Interesting that she did her first silhouette drawings and became well known as a MFA student at RISDI!
Your blogs are always a shot of adrenaline: short, but oh so informative and inspiring. The work of Kerry James Marshall says so much about the value of composition and the transference of an artist’s feelings in the treatment of subject matter.
What a great observation and comment, Allison. I will look more closely at Kerry James Marshall’s compositions. The joy and angst he has does shine thru his work, doesn’t it. Thank you for following my blog!
Hi Kirby,
It’s been too long since I’ve seen you. I love your blog alot. Am recovering from surgery for an aortal aneurism and all went really well. So glad its over, but energy is low. Looking forward to seeing you. I’m trying to get all my important email on my gmail acct. so just signed up for your blog on that. Hope everything’s going well.
Get well soon dear Jean and we’ll do some art!
I Love Kirby and her Art Blog ‼️‼️
???????????Rama
Thank you Rama! My day is made!